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  • Posted August 1, 2018
    TORONTO - The New York Yankees harvested the first win out of their US$175-million investment in Masahiro Tanaka on Friday. Jason Demers Jersey . The Blue Jays, however, will have to wait to see what Dustin McGowan has to offer. Tanaka scattered six hits over seven innings to win his major-league debut 7-3 and help the Yankees spoil Torontos home opener. A successful Yankees challenge on replay helped set the stage for the winning runs to score. The Japanese right-hander struck out eight after an early wobble and did not walk a batter while giving up three runs, only two of which were earned. Tanaka (1-0) threw 97 pitches including 65 strikes in a promising debut. "Hes definitely the real deal," said Toronto manager John Gibbons, while lamenting his team was unable to capitalize early when the door was open somewhat. "I thought he settled down great," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "The first couple of innings were a little rough ... (but) to give us seven innings and be under 100 pitches, he did a really really good job." Jays leadoff hitter Melky Cabrera welcomed Tanaka to the majors with a home run to right field on his third delivery. Not helped by his defence, he gave up two more runs in the second. Still the 25-year-old managed four strikeouts in the first two innings and soon settled down, efficiently mowing down Blue Jays while quieting the sellout Rogers Centre crowd of 48,197. After the Jays got their runs in the second, he retired 11 of 12 and faced the minimum batters in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh before calling it a night with a 5-3 lead. "He was able to fix his mistakes early on and thats the sign of a mature pitcher to me," Girardi said. New York (2-2) had 16 hits to six for Toronto (2-3), which used six pitchers on the night. The Yankees could have scored more but left 11 men on base. McGowan (0-1) gave up four earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk in just 2 2/3 innings, leaving another question-mark over the Jays starting pitching. "He feels fine," Gibbons said. "Hes better than that and hell get better than that." The Jays will need an improvement, with the night sucking five relievers out of the Toronto bullpen. Plus the team has now surrendered 11-plus hits in three of its five games to date. In his defence, the 32-year-old McGowan was making his first big-league start since Sept. 26, 2011, and just his fifth since the 2008 season. It didnt help that McGowan was somehow tipping his pitches, by setting in different spots. "Its something hes never done before ... It makes it much easier to hit," said Gibbons. "Ive got to fix that tipping thing for sure," said McGowan. "Because even I noticed after the first inning they were putting good swings on every pitch I threw. I knew something was wrong from the get-go." McGowan endured a wild opening inning that saw him give up four singles and a double but just two runs. He left trailing 4-3 after No. 8 hitter Yangervis Solarte doubled home two runners in an inning extended by a successful Yankees challenge to Ichiro Suzuki being thrown out at first by Ryan Goins. Both managers said the challenge system worked as it was designed to go. "Thats why we have it," said Gibbons. "You want to get calls right. Without instant replay, were out of that inning." Added Girardi: "I thought it worked well." The home opener, visit of the Yankees and MLB debut of Tanaka resulted in more than 300 media credentials — including production staff — being issued for the night. Large groups of media milled around on the field in front of both clubhouses before the game, like armies preparing for battle. Girardi seemed unfazed, wandering over to check out the medals of several Canadian Olympians who were being honoured on the night. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey received his Gold Glove award prior to the 10 Olympians who were honoured pre-game before an enthusiastic crowd waving freebie rally flags. Former Jays and Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay threw out the first pitch after a gigantic Canadian flag was packed up in the outfield. The Jays early pitching stumbles, however, robbed the night of much of its excitement. The Yankees have invested US$175 million to get seven years worth of Tanaka, including $20 million just to earn the right to negotiate for his services. Tanaka went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last season for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japans Pacific League. He joins Japans Suzuki and Hiroki Kuroda on the Yankees roster. The win was Tanakas 100th as a pro. "Obviously Im happy. But I think No. 1 is that Im relieved," he said through an interpreter. "I was missing some spots earlier in the game, but as the game progressed I think I was getting better out there," he added. The six-foot-two 205-pounder arrives with an array of pitching weapons, with his splitter said to be the jewel of the lot. While the spotlight shone on Tanaka, the Yankees gave Derek Jeter the night off. McGowan, whose major league pitching line was blank for 2009, 10 and 12, has been sidelined by a medical dictionary of ailments that includes Tommy John surgery, knee and shoulder operations and a bout of plantar fasciitis. As a reliever last year, he made 25 appearances — his most since the 2007 season. "All hes been through, hes defying all the odds really," Gibbons said before the game of the six-foot-three 240-pounder, who is due to make US$1.5 million this season. It proved to be a rough return to the rotation, with pitching coach Pete Walker quickly coming out of the dugout as McGowan wobbled out of the starting blocks. He found himself down 2-0 with the bases loaded after just one out but escaped without further damage. That promoted mayoral candidate Olivia Chow, who was at the game, to tweet: "If Im elected mayor, it will be illegal for the visiting team to get five hits in the first inning of the home opener." Mayor Rob Ford, whose own legal issues have been somewhat seamier, was also in attendance. Cabreras leadoff homer marked just the second time in Jays history that a player has led off the home opener with a home run. Shannon Stewart did it in 2000 against Kansas City. Tanaka was victimized in the second in the wake of two one-out singles. After first baseman Mark Teixeiras throwing error, shortstop Jonathan Diaz singled home two runs for an unlikely 3-2 lead. Teixeira left the game later in the inning with a strained right hamstring after going after a foul ball. The Yankees added a run in the fourth off reliever Aaron Loup, another in the eighth off Steve Dalabar and one more in the ninth off Jeremy Jeffress to increase the lead to 7-3. After the game, the Jays announced they had designated Jeffress for assignment.Mario Kempe Jersey .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances. Nick Cousins Jersey . Snedekers best result so far this year is a tie for eighth place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. He sits 113th in FedEx Cup standings and has dropped to 31st in world rankings — not the results expected from a player ranked fourth in the world only two years ago. PITTSBURGH -- Expanded instant replay has a new fan in Starling Marte. At least, that is, when the Pittsburgh Pirates are on the right side of it. The speedy outfielder was called out, then ruled safe on a replay review with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Pirates over San Francisco 2-1 Tuesday night and ending the Giants six-game winning streak. It was 1-all when Marte tripled off the right-field wall against Tim Hudson. Marte slid into third, got up and bolted home when the relay from second baseman Ehire Adrianza skipped by third baseman Pablo Sandoval for an error. Sandoval recovered to throw home and plate umpire Quinn Wolcott initially ruled Marte was tagged by San Francisco catcher Buster Posey. A brief review showed Martes right hand touched the plate before Poseys glove swiped Martes chest. Marte joked he likes replay "sometimes" but never doubted which way the call would go one the umpires took a longer look. "I know I was safe," Marte said. "It was just about waiting for the umpire to make the decision." Pirates manager Clint Hurdle raced out of the dugout to challenge the call. He wasnt sure at the time whether Marte was safe for not, but figured Marte deserved the benefit of the doubt. "Its an aggressive play," Hurdle said. "We continue to talk about being aggressive. We cant use the safety brakes." A night after rallying from a six-run deficit to win a five-hour, 13-inning marathon, the Giants were stunned when Martes drive and Adrianzas miscue ruined an otherwise spectacular effort from Hudson (4-2). The veteran right-hander allowed two runs on five hits in 8 2-3 innings, striking out five and walking one. The only Pirate to advance past second base over the final seven innings was Marte. "Replay is going to provide the final conclusion," Hudson said. "It is what it is and youve got to accept it. But its frustrating to be to the end of a call that cost you the ballgame. Ive seen calls that were closer than that but werent overturned." Tony Watson (3-0) worked around two singles in the ninth to earn the win. Marte scored both Pittsburgh runs and Ike Davis added two hits as the Pirates won ffor just the fourth time in their last 13 games. Tobias Rieder Jersey. Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton pitched eight sparkling innings, giving up one unearned run and three hits, walking two and striking out three. "The pitches he made to the top four hitters, theyre as good as Ive seen him make," Hurdle said. "He had those guys, there were some hard at-bats. There was good pitching. He hit his spots, changed his speed." Both teams were looking for length out of their starters after San Franciscos 11-10 the night before left their bullpens taxed. Going deep into games hasnt been a problem for Hudson, who worked with his typical efficiency while giving the relievers some needed down time. The 38-year-old has thrown at least seven innings in all seven of his starts this season. He had little trouble getting through eight innings, keeping the Pirates off-balance with his typically impeccable control. Marte reached on an infield single with one out in the second and moved to third on a single just inside the first-base bag by Davis before scoring on a groundout by Tony Sanchez. San Franciscos only run came in the second as Sanchezs throwing issues from behind the plate resurfaced. Brandon Belt hit a leadoff single, stole second and moved to third when Sanchezs throw sailed into shallow centre field. Belt scored on Adrianzas sacrifice fly. NOTES: Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez was rocked in his second rehab start while recovering from right knee inflammation. Rodriguez, who is eligible to come off the disabled list, gave up seven runs in 5 1-3 innings, striking out four and walking three while surrendering two home runs at Double-A Altoona. ... The Giants called up RHP reliever George Kontos from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday and sent Jake Dunning back to the minors. Kontos had a 4.91 ERA in 18 1-3 innings in Fresno. ... San Francisco LHP reliever David Huff, on the disabled list since April 21 a strained left quad, could begin a rehab assignment at Triple- A Fresno on Thursday. Huff threw 70 pitches in a bullpen session on Monday without any setbacks. ... The series concludes on Wednesday. Tim Lincecum (2-1, 5.12 ERA) starts for the Giants against Gerrit Cole (2-2, 3.69). Stitched Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo Black China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Gear Cheap NFL Jerseys Throwback China NFL Jerseys ' ' '